Automatic brake actuator for motor vehicles



yl.. R. HEBERT-ET A1. AUTOMATIC BRAKE ACTUATOR FOR MOTOR1 VEHICLES Filed Dep. 1s, 1922 .39pm/70 /rfaer em Z s mme Patented Nev. 11, 1924.

uNirED stares ATE Fmg,

LoUI's E. HEBERT AND Eni/LONE HEEEET', 0E Enti. RIVER, iviAssAcHUs'ETrs.

ATMATIC BRAKE ACTUATOE Eon Moron VEHICLES.

Application led December 18, 19,22. Serial No. 602,571.

Tia` dll whom t may conce/ring A Be it known that 'weq Lotus and Einv'ioiin HEBERT, citiens oi' the United States, residing at Fall River, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improveijne'nts' in Automatic Brake Actuatorsv for Motor Vehicles. of which the following is a speciiicatin; V

Our invention resides in 'the provision of an autinatic brake actuati for motor vehicles wherein the brakes are actuated for p'sitively stepping' the ymachine when it collide's with a person, vehicle or the like.

The primary obj ect et this invention is the provisin of Stich a device that is substantially simple of constiutin, highly eflicient of operaties and 'Such a device that may be readily installed upon any and all types 'of motor vehicles now on the market.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better 'understod when the fiollowiiig detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination. and arrangei'n'ent of parts as claimed.

In the drawings tornf'iingv part of this appli'cation1 like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and

wherein :e

Fi'gure 1 is a t'op plan view of the front end of a motor vehicle frame, disclosing our improved brake actuating mechanism associated therewith.

Figure 2 is an elevational View of one side theref. v

Figure 3 is a transverse cross 'sectional view upon the line 3 3 'of Figure 1, and loking rearwardly in the direction of the einem. y y Figure 4 is perspective View of one of the tipaiis or rds employed conne@ floriana the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective. View of one cf the iiont'rller aiiing brackets emplyed and c e a view Similar te Figure 5 f what may be ferme an angular rod for one end of a pair f tensin springs employed in conjunction with our invention.

With particular reference to the drawings, we have shownr 'u device as associated with al inct'r 'vehicle' 'comprising the usual chassis frame including side bars 1 and 2,

and a. front connecting bar 3. The rear ends of these bars 1 and 2 are connected by another bar similar to the front member 8 as is readilyapparent. Between the si'de frame bars 1 and 2, and spaced from the front ends thereof` is the usual transverse shaft 4, journaled between these bars and carrying the usual operating handle 5, this shatt et having .operative connections with the ino'- tor Vehicle brakes through the instrumentality of the rearwardly extending rod 6.

Upon the outer ysides of each frame bar il and 2 and at thefront end thereof areroller -carrying rectangular shaped bracket meinbers 7. As moreclearly shown in Figurey 5, these' members 7 have a pair of rollers 8 journaled therein, and the front and rear walls of each of these brackets 7 are provided with openings 9 for purposes' 'hereinafter described. Each of these brackets 7 is formed with curved lugs or ears 10.

Rearwardly of the front bracket j? are other roller carrying brackets 11 also scoured to the outer sides of the :trame bars l and 2. These brackets 11 are substantially the same as the brackets 7, lthey also carr'ving a pair of rollers 12, and being provided with ak front and rear opening, Engaging through the 'openings 1n ahn'ed roller brackets 7 and 11 upon opposite sides1 of the vehicle chassis.y is a bar orrod 13, engaging between each pairo rollers in the bracket7 and adapted for a free rectilinear movement at the opposite sides of the machine frame. are connected in any manner desirable to a suitable form of spring bumper 14; and formed or secured upon each of the rods 13 and forwardly of each roller bracket 7 and 11 are collars 15. Encircling these rods between each collar and roller bracket are coiled springs 16 functioning as a cushioning means for the rods 13, when the same are slid, rearwardly.

The opposite end of eachrd 13 is right angularly bent as at 17, and formed upon the end 4of this right angular portion is a `forwardly ekteiiding and downwardly. heilt aim 18 which carries 'a laterally xtendin'giight ai'igularlugor finger 19. Slightly frwadly of the rear roller carrying bracketsv 1l and journaled between the traine hars 1 and 2 is a rock shaft 20, the ends thereof being rearwadly bent as at 21. Adjacentl the bent ends 21 of this rock shaft 20 are vertical The front endsy of the rods 13 t rearwardly curved pins 22 in substantial alinement with the before mentioned curved lingers l() upon the front roller carrying brackets 7. is a means for normally maintaining the rock shaft 2O in the position shown in Figures l and 2, we have provided weights 23 secured at convenient points thereon. Engaging over each curved linger l0 of the front roller carrying brackets 7 is a T-plate 24.J and between each of these T-plates 24 and other T-plates 25, are secured a pair of relatively strong coiled springs 26. The last mentioned T-plates 25 are formed with a ringend 27 for receiving one end of the cables 28. These cables 28 eX-. tend rearwardly and are trained over rollers 29 supported by brackets 3() which are secured to the under surface of each of the frame bars l and 2. Each cable 28 extends forwardly between the frame bars and is connected at its opposite end to the upper end of lever 3l., which levers are keyed to the said brake controlling sha-ft 4.

Each cable 28 is provided with a pull handle 32, and when the several elements constituting our invention are in a position as shown in Figures l and 2, the motor vehicle brakes will be moved to a braking position when the bumper 14 contacts with an obstacle.

In setting the device, the bumper 14 is extended forwardly for engaging the fingers 19 of the rods i3 over tl e rearwardly bent ends 2l or" the rock shaft 2O` this shaft normally assuming the position as shown in Figures l and 2.A through the instrumentality of the weights 23. The cables 28 are thence pulled rearwardly for engaging the rings 2 of the Ts 25 over the pins 22 of the rock shaft 20, this movement occasioning an expansion of the springs 26.

In view of the above description, it will at once be apparent that should the bumper 14 strike an obstacle.I the rods 13 will be moved rearwardly for releasing the rock shaft 20, at which time, the pairs of springs 26 will occasion a pull upon the cables 28 for consequently rocking the brake operating shaft 4 in a rearward direction for pulling` up on the brake rod 6 thereby stopping the machine.

It is preferable that this device be employed in connection with automobiles of the Ford type, wherein the power clutch thereof is connected to the brake handle in such a manner'as to be disengaged when the brake is applied. but it is nevertheless apparent that our device may be associated with other types of motor vehicles, and while we have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention. it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein, Without departing` from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

lVhat we claim as new is 1. A brake actuator for motor vehicles having a frame and brake operatingmechanism including operating means normally acting to operate the brake operating mechanism for applying the brakes to the vehicle, bumper carried members slidable in the frame`A and holding means carried by the frame adapted for cooperative engagement with the bumper carried members and the operating means, for releasably holding said operating means in inoperative position.

2. A brake actuator for motor vehicles including operable means normally operable to apply the brakes of the vehicla meinber mounted for sliding movement on vthe vehicle, bumper mounted on the slide member for operating said member when the bumper strikes an object. and a rotatable member adapted to engage and hold the first mentioned means in inoperative position when in engagement with the slide member, and released upon the sliding movement of said member when operated by the bumper for rotation to release the irst mentioned means.

3. A brake actuator for motor vehicles having` a brake operating mechanism including spring operated means normally operable to artuate the brake operating mechanism for applying the brakes of lthe vehicle, a slidable holding element having a bumper mounted thereon in front of the vehicle. and a rotatable member for engagement with the slidable element adapted to hold said spring` under tension when engaged with said element, whereby a sliding movement of said element will permit rotation of said member for releasing the spring to operate the brake.

4. A brake actuator for motor vehicles having a frame and brake operating mechan ism including a pair of bumper carried rods slidably mounted on the framej a shaft rotatable in the frame having` lingers adapted to engage the terminals of said rods in one position thereof relative to the frame In testimonv whereof we atiix our siena-` tures.

LGUS R. HEBERT. EDMOND HEBERT. 

